In Vermont, almost 700 people have received care for HIV in the last few years. Vermont Edition spoke to Roy Belcher - an epidemiologist and HIV surveillance coordinator for the state - about what life looks like for Vermonters living with the virus, what has changed and what treatments are available.

Send a message of support to detained LGBTQ+ migrant leader Beto

Sharing in support of Beto Sanchez and Migrant Justice. Please send a message if you can.

Earlier this month, detained farmworker and LGBTQ migrant leader Beto Sanchez was denied bond by an immigration judge. Despite over 1,000 letters of support and multiple news stories attesting to his courageous leadership for queer, immigrant, and farmworker rights, Beto continues to be held without bail in immigration detention.

Beto is applying for political asylum based on the persecution that he faced as a gay man in Mexico, and the likelihood that he would experience violence if he were to be deported. He will go back in front of the immigration judge on March 12th to present his asylum claim.

Beto has lived in Vermont for three years, working on dairy farms around the state and becoming involved in Migrant Justice, the Pride Center of Vermont, and other organizations. He has helped to lead a survey of fellow dairy workers on occupational health and safety risks, contributing valuable knowledge about a notoriously dangerous industry. Beto has also been involved in workshops on the needs of the community of LGBTQ immigrant farmworkers.

In December of 2018 Beto was arrested by local police and released with a summons to appear in court for driving under the influence. When he showed up at the courthouse, Immigration and Customs Enforcement were there waiting to arrest Beto, and he has been held without bail in federal immigration detention ever since. Beto should be afforded due process for his DUI charge, as any other Vermonter would. To deport him -- where he would likely face continued persecution and violence due to his sexual orientation -- would be inhumane and unjust.

Despite being behind bars for two months, Beto is staying strong -- but he needs all the support he can get. Please take a moment to send him a message of solidarity as he prepares for his March 12th court appearance.

Between the evening hours of Monday, February 4, and the morning of Tuesday, February 5, a poster with the words “Better Dead Than Red” was plastered onto the main entrance door of Pride Center of Vermont. The flyer also displays a logo depicting an arrow shooting through a red hammer and sickle.

The poster advertises Patriot Front, an alt-right propaganda website and white supremacist, anti-Semitic group founded by an 18-year-old Texan, Thomas Rousseau, in the aftermath of the 2017 riots in Charlottesville. The group’s tagline is “Reclaim America.”

According to the Patriot Front website, this act was part of a coordinated effort across more than ten states including Vermont. The website states that their recent efforts are “a call to action for all those faithful to the nation and demonstrates the untapped potential of a national collective mobilized in defense of its liberty.”

The timing of the incident is especially stirring, following unrelated concerns made to the safety and well-being of Center staff and users last week which led the organization to closing Monday, February 4, to make improvements to its safety procedures and measures.

“As an anti-oppression organization, we care about the safety of our LGBTQ+ communities and take all actions that impact our safety very seriously,” said Mike Bensel, Executive Director of Pride Center of Vermont.

Burlington Police Department are aware of the incident and are instructing anyone who sees the posters or stickers to call their local law enforcement. The culprit or culprits are still unknown, and police are instructing those with a lead to report it. Pride Center of Vermont also reported the incident to Vermont Attorney General, T.J. Donovan’s recently-launched Bias Incident Reporting System.

This recent event comes nearly a year after Patriot Front organized a demonstration in front of Burlington's City Hall. In response to that action, Mayor Miro Weinberger wrote: “White supremacist groups like Patriot Front have no place in Burlington. [Inclusivity and equality for all] are the values that make Burlington and our country great, and the values we will continue to uphold to ensure that intolerance never takes root here.”

Pride Center of Vermont Expresses Concern Over Detention of Latino LGBTQ+ Community Member

BURLINGTON, VT - January 23, 2019 - Pride Center of Vermont is concerned that the detention and potential deportation of Cruz Alberto “Beto” Sanchez-Perez will not only expose him to imminent danger, but will also highly impact the feeling of safety for LGBTQ+ immigrants across Vermont. His detention has already deprived Vermont of a valued and constructive community member.

In December of 2018, while appearing in court for a traffic stop unrelated to his immigration status, Beto was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In agreement with Migrant Justice, we at Pride Center of Vermont believe that, “Beto should be afforded due process for his traffic stop, as any other Vermonter would, instead of being locked up without bail and facing impending deportation.”

Pride Center of Vermont has come to know Beto through our work to improve services for LGBTQ+ migrant farmworkers. Beto has been actively involved with Pride Center of Vermont by helping to develop programs for LGBTQ+ migrants in Addison County. He has also participated in workshops with Pride Center of Vermont staff with the goal of improving the ability of local service agencies to serve Spanish-speaking LGBTQ+ clients.

Beto is a valued member of both migrant and LGBTQ+ communities. He has the initiative and leadership abilities that make him stand out as a leader in the groups in which he participates. As such, we have found him to be the kind of person who works effectively to make Vermont a better, more equitable, and more welcoming place for all of its residents. He is an asset to our community who deserves our love and support, especially during this trying time.

With support from a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Violence against Women (OVW), Pride Center of Vermont works in collaboration with Migrant Justice, H.O.P.E. Works, WomenSafe, and Voices Against Violence to reach LGBTQ+ migrant farmworkers in Addison, Chittenden, and Franklin counties who have limited access to services. We work to provide greater connection to all grant partners for LGBTQ+ migrant farm workers who may be experiencing sexual, domestic and/or intimate partner violence and need support. Under this grant, Pride Center of Vermont’s Coordinator for Migrant Anti-Violence Programs supports and advocates with and for, migrant farm workers, and provides assistance and technical trainings for all grant partners.

BURLINGTON, VT – January 22, 2019 — On this day, the Supreme Court has chosen to uphold blatant discrimination against our transgender and gender non-conforming military personnel. In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trump's transgender military ban to go into effect. While the Justices have not ruled on the merits of the case, they have temporarily allowed the ban while the lower courts move forward with appeals processes. This is the same policy made known on August 25, 2017, via a memo from President Trump directing the Pentagon to bar transgender Americans from military service. The Trump-Pence administration continues to target and alienate our community members from their right to serve our country. Similar attacks from our country's leadership since Trump has taken office have been documented by The National Center for Transgender Equality.

We, at Pride Center of Vermont, wholeheartedly believe that this policy is targeted discrimination. The ban sends a clear message that our Supreme Court has decided to see people who are transgender as 'less than' their peers. We are here to remind you, our state, and our nation that our community will not be erased or invalidated by this administration or anyone else. #WontBeErased

This policy leaves us questioning, what’s next? This administration continues to demonstrate that it does not intend to uphold the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Many transgender people across the country fear the impacts of this policy on their livelihoods both directly and indirectly. This policy's impact extends beyond the military and erodes our feelings of safety in our daily lives and leaves many transgender people wondering whether their housing or employment is in jeopardy.

To those impacted, we hope this serves as a reminder that you are loved and that you matter. This is not the first time our communities have experienced injustice at a broad level, and we are here to help you persevere. You are not alone. Pride Center of Vermont is your Center and we are here for you.

If you are an LGBTQ+ and/or HIV-affected person experiencing discrimination or violence, advocates through our SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program are available to provide free and confidential support. Our advocates are available during office hours (Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Friday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM) via phone at (802) 863-0003, in person, or via email at safespace@pridecentervt.org.

Prideability is a series focused on disabilities in the LGBTQ community. The host, David Frye, is a founder of the Disability Network Group at the Pride Center of VT. He addresses issues, concerns, and provide information that will help educate others on this topic in Vermont and across the country.

Host David Frye speaks Anne Vernon who is currently a Senior Manager with Howard Center in Burlington, VT. She administers a staff team that supports 130 adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, and co-occurring mental illness. Additionally, Anne leads several groups that she developed for individuals on the Spectrum, to include: a Women’s Group, a Group for Individuals who are Trans/Questioning & Allies, a Video and Gaming Group, and Chess, Checkers, and Cribbage groups. Anne’s philosophy is to support each person individually to reach their goals by helping them to develop strategies to be successful. She is involved in community building and seeks to provide education about barriers individuals on the Spectrum often face.

Prideability is a series focused on disabilities in the LGBTQ community. The host, David Frye, is a founder of the Disability Network at the Pride Center of VT. He addresses issues, concerns, and provide information that will help educate others on this topic in Vermont and across the country.

On Tuesday, December 4th, WCAX posted the article, Breaking the Cycle: Is restorative justice the answer for domestic abuse? The article addresses a broader question of justice within our society and what healing may - or may not - look like for survivors.

Last year, nearly half of all misdemeanor domestic violence cases (379 of 797) and more than half of all felonies (270 of 409) were dismissed by either prosecutors or the courts...

“The numbers of cases that get dismissed in the court system speak for themselves,” [says] T.J. Donovan, D-Vt. Attorney General… “What's happening in the traditional criminal justice system isn't working. So let's have the courage to say it's not working and let's start looking at different option.” Donovan said.

[Galaise, a survivor of violence shared,] "I feel like the system utterly failed him. And because it failed him, it failed our whole family," Galaise said.

Experiencing harm within the criminal legal system is unfortunately all too common for survivors.When a survivor works within the criminal legal system, the choice to prosecute - or not to prosecute - lies with the local state's attorney. The survivor’s experience and wishes for safety help to inform the process and what the attorney seeks in criminal charges, but the power to make that decision ultimately lies with the state.

For many of the survivors who PCVT’s SafeSpace Anti-Violence Program works with, there is the additional fear of experiencing identity related harm through the criminal legal system (e.g., homophobia, transphobia, ableism, racism, classism, etc.). The National Transgender Discrimination Survey (2012, page 124) stated,

“Police services were the most highly problematic aspect of government services overall, with respondents reporting the highest rate of assault when attempting to access police services (6%), along with very high rates of harassment/ disrespect (29%) and denial of equal service (20%).”

Prior to working within the criminal legal system, transgender survivors may ask, “Will they be racially biased? Will they misgender me while they are talking about a really deeply harmful experience? Will they believe me? Will they remember to have an interpreter available for me? Will they ‘victim-blame’ me? Will the jury dismiss me due to [insert *ism here]?”.

At SafeSpace, we strive to support and empower survivors to make choices that feel best to them. We believe that survivors are the experts for their own lives and should lead their own decisions without pressure from others. This philosophy means that we respect a survivor’s choice to participate – or not to participate – in the criminal legal system.

SafeSpace is available to provide emotional support, advocacy, and resources to LGBTQ+ and HIV affected survivors of violence (domestic, sexual, emotional, and hate) and discrimination. We also are available to provide trainings and technical assistance to providers who are striving to provide more inclusive support.

Advocates can be reached during office hours (Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) through our warm-line 802-863-0003 and by email safespace@pridecentervt.org.

We believe you. We support you. And we believe that you are the expert of your own healing or movement forward.

Context: Sexual minority women (SMW) are less likely to use sexual and reproductive health care services and receive contraceptive counseling than their heterosexual peers. The role of recent sexual partners and the type of information provided when SMW access health services are unclear.

Methods: The National Survey of Family Growth 2006–2015 was used to document sexual orientation disparities in the use of sexual and reproductive health services and counseling in clinical settings among 20,703 women. We incorporate data on sexual partners in the past 12 months to investigate whether recent sex with men was associated with health care seeking behavior and reproductive counseling.

Results: Eight-seven percent of the sample reported a male partner in the past 12 months, including 83% of bisexual women and 17% of lesbian women. In clinical settings, 48% of women reported birth control counseling at pregnancy or Pap tests, 49% reported a condom consult at an sexually transmitted diseases (STD) screening, and 9% reported emergency contraception counseling at a Pap test. Logistic regression models show that lesbian women were less likely than heterosexual women to have been given a contraceptive prescription or received contraceptive counseling, but were more likely to have received an STD test. In clinical settings, lesbian women were less likely to receive contraceptive counseling at pregnancy tests, and lesbian women without male partners were less likely to have a counseling about condom use at STD-related visits compared with heterosexual women.

Conclusions: At least some women and providers adjust health care seeking behaviors and information provided to women based upon recent sexual behavior histories. More work is needed to understand why disparities in reproductive health services and contraceptive use persist among SMW who engage in sex with men.

Comcast has generously committed to matching all donations up to $5,000!

Join us for this global day of philanthropy and throughout the end of the year by giving back to the community during this holiday season. In honor of Giving Tuesday, will you support our mission of creating a more equitable society for LGBTQ people?

We make it our mission to engage, empower, and advocate for our community. We provide vital services to an ever-increasing number of people at our center in Burlington and in communities across the state. As we continue to trudge through this uncertain political climate, your support is more critical than ever. We are committed to providing life-changing services and advocacy for LGBTQ Vermonters, but we can’t do it without your partnership.

You can make a difference this Giving Tuesday. Your gift of any amount supports the health and wellness of the most vulnerable, advocates for equality and justice, and builds a culturally vibrant LGBTQ community.

And today, Comcast has generously committed to matching all donations to the Pride Center of Vermont up to $5,000!

We are to launch a new feature focusing on Being LGBTQ+ and Aging with responses based on information from our partners at Champlain College. To submit a question for next month's newsletter, please email your question to whatsup@pridecentervt.org.

Q&A Forum:

On Being LGBTQ+ and Aging

This month we are excited to launch a new What's Up Q&A column! We are featuring a section focusing on Being LGBTQ+ and Aging with responses based on information from our partners at Champlain College. To submit a question for next month's newsletter, please email your question to whatsup@pridecentervt.org.

Q: I read on Healthy People 2020 that LGBTQ+people are (for the first time!) identified in the U.S. national health priorities. If this is good news, I am concerned by the fact that this might lead to considering all LGBTQ+ aging population as “at-risk,” opening the door to healthcare coverage discrimination. Is that even true? If it is, is there anything that can be done to minimize the risks?

A: Thank you for a very interesting question! There are risk factors that have been identified and that may be specific to the LGBTQ+ population. If we think about what “healthy aging” means, a few categories come to mind, like physical and mental health, social connections, and a positive sense of self/identity. Studies that explored these within the LGBTQ+ community found out that a positive sense of sexual identity can be a key factor to promote healthy aging, while past experiences of discrimination or victimization can be detrimental to healthy aging. The good news is that people are trying to address these risk factors, so that their impact will become (hopefully) less and less evident, and this should also prevent healthcare discrimination. Given all that, the most effective path towards healthy aging healthily would be to build connections within the community, find groups or even a few people who allow you to express your real self by supporting your sexual and individual identity, and – obviously – try to minimize unhealthy behaviors like smoking and engage in healthy ones like exercising.

Getting more information from the Pride Center about their current activity targeting LGBTQ+ adults over 45, like the group Momentum would be a good first step to improve the quality and size of your social network.

Q: Is gender transition in later life common? Are there any negative consequences?

A: It appears that many older Baby Boomers are seriously contemplating gender transitions in their later years; within this population, it seems that transgender women may be disproportionately coming out later in life. A study collecting life-stories from a broad sample of transgender women - all of whom seriously considered or pursued a gender transition past the age of 50 - reported that their contemplation of gender transition came after years, often decades, of internal and interpersonal struggle.

This struggle goes against what’s believed to be important for healthy aging: a strong positive sense of self, and being able to work on the negative experience of discrimination and victimization. From this perspective, gender transition later in life could be seen as a positive step toward better aging. Heteronormativity still has a pervasive influence in our society which means that transgender older adults are often forced to reconstruct the meaning of their experiences at the periphery of these norms; this is hard.

Are you tired of fighting everyone at the table to claim the prestigious title of GAME NIGHT CHAMPION? Don't like beating your friends? Then Co-Op (Cooperative) board games are for you! No, we won't play them at City Market (different Co-Op!). These games are designed so that players work together to beat the game, instead of each other and they are a TON of fun to play! I will bring a couple of choices (Pandemic or Forbidden Island), but you can feel free to bring your own as well (especially if someone has a copy of Hanabi!). We will need all the help we can get to emerge victorious from this game night adventure so RSVP and mark that calendar! Hope to see you there!

This event is open and available to all community members who wish to participate. Our Pride Center location is accessible via stairs or elevator. If you have any accessibility questions or concerns, please contact the Pride Center staff at (8020 860-7812 or via email at info@pridecentervt.org.

With the happenings of this election, constant bombardment by negative news, and blatant attacks on the basic rights of the LGBTQ community, we can clearly see that NOW is the time to get involved and stand up for what we believe in.

However, the process of getting involved with issues can quickly become overwhelming, especially for those who are finding themselves as brand-new activists. This election day, GLAM was graced with the presence of Jabari Jones, a local activist in Vermont on "Tip Tuesday", GLAM's bi-monthly LIVE chat on Facebook, who shared great advice on maintaining Self-Care Within Activism.

Jabari, an avid leader in the Black Lives Matters Movement of Greater Burlington, talked passionately about the many causes that drive him as an advocate. When asked how he chooses what to get involved with and how to prevent from becoming overwhelmed by the many facets of his advocacy work, he quickly detailed that he aims for the "root" causation of all of the issues surrounding him and sees the collective as one, singular fight.

What is that root issue?

"Racism." Jabari replied with confidence.

Jabari then left us with this beautiful summary of Self-Care Within Activism:

By Johnny Chagnon

Today marks the 30th anniversary of National Coming Out Day, which celebrates the power of being able to openly and boldly proclaim our identity as an LGBTQ+ individual. For many of us, being able to comfortably live with the freedom to be and love ourselves for who we are is a vital step in becoming whole and healthy. Since the first NCOD in 1988, we have seen significant changes in the atmosphere surrounding individuality and some subcultures, which allows most of us a much easier path to follow once we come out.

While it is important to celebrate the successes we have accomplished in 30 years, it is equally important to acknowledge the disparities that still affect us. Privilege exists sparingly within the LGBTQ+ community, and issues that affect the general population such as racism, transphobia, bisexual erasure, HIV stigma, misogyny and more absolutely infiltrate every corner of our own community. If we are to be a family of LGBTQ+ people, we only succeed in getting better if we all advance together.

Stand up and proudly proclaim who you are. Take that first step to explore your feelings and your options. Reach out and find people you can relate to and may find support in. Step away from toxic people in your life and lean on those who lift you up. If you see someone who needs support, approach them and offer a hand. Educate yourself on issues that affect not only your own self, but those around us.